Rockinghorse runners make a difference

Rockinghorse runners put their best foot forward at the Brighton Half Marathon, helping to raise thousands of pounds.

Rockinghorse runners put their best foot forward at the Brighton Half Marathon, helping to raise thousands of pounds.

We welcomed a team of 54 runners to the event on Sunday 26 February, all raising funds for the Sussex Giving for Sussex Children appeal.

We are celebrating the charity’s 50th anniversary in 2017 with the aim to raise £500,000 during the year, to be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services in Sussex. Our Brighton Half Marathon participants have collectively raised over £12,500, with money still being donated.

Despite difficult weather conditions, all the Rockinghorse runners completed the 13-mile race. The first of our runners across the finish line was Ricky Head from Mailserve in Burgess Hill, who finished at 1 hour 30 minutes.

Rockinghorse CEO Ryan Heal (pictured bottom left), also took part and crossed the line at 1 hour 50 minutes, achieving a personal best. He was joined by our Appeals & Trusts Fundraising Manager, Louise Bartha (pictured bottom, second from right), for her first half marathon, finishing at 2 hours 25 minutes.

Those taking part were supported by our eight members of staff, who were joined by a team of volunteers. A cheering squad could be heard and seen outside the front of Brighton Pier, and runners were greeted in the charity village on Madeira Drive at the Rockinghorse tent, where post-race massages were provided free-of-charge by Bend Fit Mend.

Hannah Seltzer, Events Fundraising Co-ordinator at Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, said: “On behalf of everyone at Rockinghorse, I’d like to say a huge thank you to our amazing team of runners for taking part and supporting our charity. We are incredibly proud of their fantastic achievements and we simply cannot thank them enough for their dedication to the challenge.”

With the Brighton Marathon only a few weeks away (Sunday 9 April), we’re looking for runners already signed up to take part in the event, to support our Sussex Giving for Sussex Children appeal. To find out more, contact Hannah Seltzer on 01273 330044 or email hannah.seltzer@rockinghorse.org.uk.

All the pictures from the Brighton Half Marathon can be seen on our Facebook page, by clicking here. Many thanks to volunteer Andy Voakes for taking them.